YULA PANTHERS Advance to T1 Finals after Defeating Hillel HEAT 66-64!

With a coveted spot in the Tier 1 Championship game on the line, the DRS Wildcats and TABC Storm faced off in a high-stakes semifinal that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.
The game began with a burst of energy as TABC won the tipoff, only for DRS’s Tzvi Tsaidi to steal the ball and convert a quick layup. TABC’s Akiva Borgen responded immediately with a three-pointer, briefly putting his team in the lead. After the initial flurry of action, both teams settled into a slower pace, struggling to find the basket. TABC’s Yonatan Faber provided a late spark in the quarter, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to give his team a one-point edge. However, DRS rallied and closed the first quarter with a narrow 12-11 lead.

The defensive intensity continued in the second quarter, with both teams battling for every point. Borgen showcased his skill with a tough and-one layup to put TABC ahead briefly, but DRS answered with a timely three-pointer to regain the lead. Joe Aaron was a standout performer for the Wildcats, contributing 7 points and 5 rebounds in the half. DRS entered halftime with a 21-17 advantage, setting the stage for an intense second half.

The Wildcats came out firing in the third quarter, with Adir Sacknovitz draining a three-pointer to kick off a dominant stretch. DRS steadily extended their lead, stifling TABC’s offense and holding their star scorer, Eyal Kinderlehrer, to just 9 points through three quarters. By the end of the third, DRS had built a commanding 38-27 lead, seemingly on the brink of a decisive victory.
The fourth quarter, however, brought a dramatic twist. Borgen continued to lead TABC’s charge, scoring his 14th point to spark a rally. Kinderlehrer began to find his rhythm, achieving a double-double with points and rebounds midway through the quarter. A clutch three-pointer from Faber cut DRS’s lead to just 5 points. With two minutes remaining, TABC had clawed back to trail by a single point, setting up a thrilling finish.

In the game’s final moments, both teams had chances to score but couldn’t convert until Joe Aaron stepped up for DRS. With 15 seconds remaining, Aaron drove to the basket and sank a tough, contested layup to push the Wildcats’ lead to three. TABC attempted a desperation three-pointer, but it missed. Kinderlehrer grabbed the rebound and quickly scored a putback, but time ran out before TABC could complete the comeback. DRS held on for a thrilling 44-43 victory.

Joe Aaron was the hero for DRS, finishing with 19 points and 7 rebounds, including the decisive basket. For TABC, Eyal Kinderlehrer delivered an impressive 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Borgen added 13 points in a valiant effort. Despite TABC’s remarkable fourth-quarter rally, DRS’s resilience and clutch play earned them a spot in the Tier 1 Championship game.